Rope clamp



April 5 1927. 1,623,615

s. BQNA ROPE CLAMP Filed oct. 27, V1925 V alike/wu;

'Paella-:d Apr. s, y1927.

1,623,615 ortica.Y

a.; 'r' a lf. ce en.,

YBorn CLAMP.

vApplication filed October 27, V1925. Serial No. 65,202.

This Vinvention relates to rope clamping devices and has particularreferenc'ezto-a clamp especially intended=for use-'on clothes linesand-thelike.E N lAnimportant object ofthe invention is to provide ropeclamp designed so as to permit convenient engagement with a clotheslline forretaining `the same tightly ink position."A e 1.1.1 -,..y.

'A further object of the invention is the provisionflof a rope clamparranged vso as to permitconvenient disengagement of theI rope whendesirable.' L; r

i Another object of the invention isvthe provision of a clamp i of thelabove character by V'means-rofl whichL a clothesline maybe held indesirable tension andis arrangedso Ithat weight *on Y the v clothesline1will`I tighten the connection ofthe clamp.. i f 1.. 'Still anotherlobject of the invention is the provision-'of a simple andHdurable-clampof the above characterldesigned to operate etilciently and which may beplaced .upon the market-,at a comparatively lowcost.

"Otherobjects''a'ndi advantages of the invention will become apparent-asthe description'progres'ses` i 1. 1.;

Tntheaccompanying drawing forming a par-t of thisspeciication andin.whichilike numerals are employed to designate correfsponding partsthroughout the :same i V*Figure 1fis-longitudinal sectional view througha clamp constructed in accordance with my invention, shown in operativeengagement with a. clothes line, Y

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the clamp.

Figure 3 is an end-elevation of the clamp frame, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movable line engaging element.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 generally designatesthe frame structure of my improved clamping device embodying alongitudinal body G of substantially semicircular formation in crosssection and provided on its forward end with a loop 7. This loop ispreferably formed integral with the body 6 and is adapted to engage oneend of a clothes line 8. The rear extremity of the frame 5 is providedwith a pair of downwardly extending brackets 9 of durable structureprovided on the lower ends withV U-shaped bracket ears 10. This framestructure is preferably of durable metallic the under side ofthe-body'rportionbetween the brackets 9 being-preferably provided rwith;-a tapered pady '11{}the purpose of :which will ybecome ,apparenteslthealscript-ion progresses.; f ma :.-m ,a

in. association with the frame structure 5 so a s,,topermitvdis-Vengagement when :the device .is not,-in use, is. .a line :engagingmember 12. @This member 'comprises '.a.,segmental cam 13 of taperedformation as yshown-:to advantage in Figure l, and `:hasformediuntegralf.therewitl angular. radiallyeextending lever 14. The

upper extremity of theleie114fis,provided with a substantiallytriangular-shapedlloop 1 5. through: whichthe free.. end of theclothesline is adapted to project. Formedonthe v:sides Lof .the cambodywlatfitszconnection with thelever -14 `areapair of transversely 7 extending;pivot pins ;1G. preferably.- y of e lCircular. cross section and formedintegral with vthe.cambody.= These pivotpins aneaclapted to be looselyve-ngageable.withV ,thefliecesses j formed in the ears .10a-.so that theunitary :member 1.2 maya be .conveniently alotated; ,4511i :orderfthat 1the free fendi; ofi the yClothQS 1in@ orl rope may: be; .tightlyvwedged. betweenl `=the upper arcuate edgey of Vthe'pwcam..113I andthe.

frame padll the cam-.isprovided withitrans- 3 verselyr directed` teeth*17 adapted i to .firmly enga-ge the..bropef-and,` prevent movementthereof In use, one end of the clothesline or rope 8 is inserted throughthe loop 7 formed on the forward extremity of the frame 5 land a knotformed on the end thereof to prevent removal. The opposite end of theline 8 is adjustably associated with the clama by actuating the lever 14to a` substantially 95 vertical position so that the cam 13 will 'be ina substantially remote position from the pad 11 and permit the rope 8 tobe inserted through the loop 15 and the opening formed y between theupper cam face and theframe pad. To cause the cam to firmly grip therope, the lever 14 is actuated in an `arcuate manner away from the clampframe so that the serrated edge of the cam will tightly wedge the ropebetween the cam and the V105.

frame pad. With reference to Figure 1 of the drawing, it is evident thatany weight carried by the clothes line or -rope 8 will tend to increasethe gripping capacity of the device, due largely to the position of thelever 14 and loop 15v formed thereon. As can be readily noted, `fromthis ligure, the

loop is in a substantially elevated position relative to the cam and anytendency to draw downwardly on the clothes line will also cause similarmovement of the cam 13, and will thus cause the rope to be tightlywedged in the clamp.

It is thus apparent, that avery simple and efficient clamping device isprovided, permittinfr clothes lines and similar apparatus to be firmlyattached. While the device is particularly intended for use upon clotheslines, it is by no means restricted to this particular use and may beadvantageously employed for the connection of various types of ropes andcables.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the sub'oined claims.

I aving thus described my invention, l claim:

l. A Clamp comprising, in combination, a frame structure including alongitudinal body portion, a rope engaging loop formed on the rearextremity of the body, a pair of oppositely disposed brackets extendingdownwardly at the forward portion of the body, a pair of U-shaped earsformed on the lower extremities of the brackets, a detachable ropeengaging member associated with the frame embodying` a tapered segmentalcam, transversely directed teeth formed on the upper arcuate edge of thecam, an angular radially directed lever formed on the forward edge ofthe cam, a loop formed on the upper edge of the lever, the said ropeengaging member being pivotally connected upon the bracket ears by apair of transversely directed pins mounted on the sides of the said cam.

2. A clamp comprising, in combination, a frame structure embodying alongitudinal semi-circular shaped body, a rope engaging loop formed onthe rear extremity of the body, a pair of downwardly extending bracketsformed on the forward extremity of the body, U-shaped bracket earsformed on the lower extremities of the brackets, a rope engaging memberdetachably mounted on the said bracket ears embodying a taperedsegmental cam, teeth formed on the upper arcuate edge of the cam, anangular arm formed on the forward edge of the cam, a loop formed on theupper extremity of the lever, a pair of transversely extending pinsformed on the cam at the intersection of the cam and lever, engageablewith the bracket ears adapted to permit pivoted n'iovement of theengaging member so that a rope may be iirmly secured between the cam andframe structure.

A rope clamp comprising in combination, a support frame having a ropeengaging loop on one end, a pair of bracket ears formed on the oppositeend of the same, a detachable rope engaging member pvotally mounted inthe said ears, the said engaging member including a cam co-operatinglwith the frame to tightly engage the free ends of a rope, a lever formedintegral with the cam and extending at a forward angle with respect tothe frame having a loop through which the rope is threaded to detachablyengage the rope in alignment with the same.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

lSTEPHEN RONA.

